Detroit Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank yells out to his players during the first half against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. / Jeremy Brevard, USA TODAY Sports

by Vince Ellis, USA TODAY Sports

by Vince Ellis, USA TODAY Sports

BOSTON â?? Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said he is "very happy" as the coach of the Pistons in response to a Yahoo! Sports report that he might be a candidate for the Rutgers coaching job.

"I'm the coach of the Pistons," Frank said before the Pistons faced the Celtics tonight. "I haven't heard from anyone."

"Like I told you, I'm very happy as the coach of the Pistons. I haven't been contacted by anyone and there's nothing more to say."

The Rutgers job is vacant after Mike Rice was fired amid ESPN showing a video tape of him abusing players. The Yahoo! Sports report suggested the job is likely going to Rhode Island coach Bob Hurley, but Frank could be a fallback candidate.

Frank is a New Jersey native and his wife, Susan, lives there with their two children. Frank recently missed six games to take care of his ill wife.

Frank, 42, appears to be an NBA lifer, but the New Jersey school could represent a nice landing spot for him if the Pistons decide to go in another direction following the regular season - assuming the Rutgers job is still open.

Frank was asked if he was surprised to see his name linked to the college job.

"I can only control what I can control," Frank said. "Right now my focus is on trying to beat the Celtics."

The Rice firing was a hot topic among Pistons players who had heard about the situation.

Frank made a point of saying abusive behavior doesn't work.

"You watch that tape, it's appalling," Frank said. "I just think overall that's not going to work - in any walk (of life). On Wall Street, the NBA, the NCAA, high school, college. He got fired, right? There's consequences for your actions."